Pumping - Milk in Tubes

[Poodge]

Somehow the milk was not draining into the bottle and instead went into the tubes on my pump. I noticed a change in noise and looked down and stopped it before it reached the motor. Do you think I will be ok if I just sterilize the tubes tonight?

[OperaDiva]

Should be fine, I think the manual says if milk goes into the tubing you can just sterilize it, no big deal.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

Same thing happened to me! I have a Medela PIS. Is that what you have?

[Phridae]

I've had this happen to me a few times on different pumps. Sometimes the little flapper valve thingy gets stuck and the milk doesnt drip into the bottle, so it goes up the tube. I always make sure to check the valve before I pump now, checking to see that its not sticking from drying after being washed.

But you should be able to sterilize the tubing the way you do anything else. Just make sure the tubing is completely covered in water and filled with water if you use the microwave bags.

[smpayne]

This is fairly typical of the Medela pumps. A bowl full of water with a tablespoon of bleach works well also (this will even get mold out of the tubes).

[Poodge]

Originally Posted by HoosierDiaperinMama

Same thing happened to me! I have a Medela PIS. Is that what you have?

Yes, it is a Medal PIS.

[KirstenMary]

Also pull the diaphragm cover and clean suction circle as well. When my milk went into the tubes, it also went into the diaphragm, and I didn't realize it until the inside of my PIS started growing mold.